Klarinet Archive - Posting 000910.txt from 2001/10

From: EClarinet@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Band vs orch eefer range
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 01:52:52 -0500

<< by "voice them as small as you can", Elise, you mean making it softer by
means of breath support?

Cheers, Virginia>>

Virginia, not so much 'softer' as 'smaller'. The space I am making at the
back of my mouth where my tongue is raised is even smaller than usual. This
means that a smaller volume of air comes through, but it is even faster,
which is what I really need to get those high notes and get them in tune.

When I am describing this to my students, I tell them to use more "eeee" or
to make the note 'smaller'. It is exactly the same thing I do when I am
singing in my extreme altissimo range (we call it 'flute' voice). The note
feels like a tiny squeak to me, but it comes out nicely and there is no
trouble with projection. Think of the tiny little space you have to make to
get double high C---you cannot slam a lot of air through your
throat/mouth---you must "eeeek" it out, right?

When I first started doing all my eefer playing, I just kept trying to find a
harder and harder reed, but this approach has its limits, and was not
reliable. My sister, who has done a lot more eefer playing than I, suggested
that I make it work with my voicing. I objected at first, said it couldn't
be done, but she has turned to be correct!

Elise Curran
Orlando, FL

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